LA Gun Buyback Yields ... Rocket Launchers?!

75 assault weapons also turned in

(Newser)
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Los Angeles officials declared victory this week, after their gun buyback program managed to pull in 2,037 guns, including 75 assault weapons and two anti-tank rocket launchers, the LA Times reports. Yes, you read that correctly. Residents turned in the weapons for grocery store gift cards, no questions asked.

"Those are weapons of war, weapons of death," LAPD Chief Charlie Beck said of the rockets and assault weapons. "These are not hunting guns." Response to the drive was so unexpectedly strong that the city ran out of gift cards, and had to rely on a private donation through the city controller to keep things going. In 166 cases, owners turned in their guns for nothing.

"LAPD Chief Charlie Beck said of the rockets and assault weapons. "These are not hunting guns."" What part of the Second Amendment mentions hunting? This CLEO is the exact reason why we need a strong 2A. He disgusts me. The rocket launching tube is inert. There is zero chance it will ever launch a rocket. Typical emotion based reporting. But it sure looks scary, doesn't it? Real credible reporting, no agendas here. Bunch of hacks.

reasonator

Dec 30, 2012 3:08 PM CST

But no rockets ... which goes to show how stupid and non-effective these gun buyback PR events are. (Not to mention the fact as some have pointed out, the "rocket launchers" turned in are actually training mockups that don't fire anything, or may fire a single 9 mm round. They are not actually rocket launchers at all, just look like it.) Mostly broke weapons that are worth about $50 in parts, and people turn them in for $100, or they are old working guns that have been passed down or were owned by another family member, but were stored away for years and years, and then people turn them in. They might be worth a lot of money, but people unknowingly turn them in for $100 bucks. But do the buybacks make anyone safe? Nope, those guns weren't out in the hands of criminals to begin with. Do you think a criminal is going to turn in his gun? Nope. So it's just an act of feel-goodism, and it doesn't make anyone more safe.

KDickley

Dec 30, 2012 2:49 PM CST

Banning guns is stupid. If nobody has guns you will have to wrestle 2 or 3 burglars to the ground when they invade your house at night. Do you think your grandma will be able to protect herself against even 1 thug? There is at least one state that has mandatory carry, and crime has went down there. Those who want to have guns to protect themselves and others, should have proper training. Those who do not, can call themselves "victims". Call 911 and ask the intruder to want 10 minutes for a cop.

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